Trap-door mechanism.



F. AHLSTROM.

TRAP DOOR MBCHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED APB. 2a, 1914.

1,102,220, Patented June 30, 1914 COLUMBIA PLANnolxM- CoA, WASHINGTON. l). c.

FREDERICK .AHLSTROM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY IVIESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO METALS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS, .A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TRAP-DOOR MECHANISM.

Lioaeeo.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 3l), 19.14.

Application filed April 29, 1914. Serial No. 835,114.

To all ze/font 'it may concern l15e it known that I, Flnmnn'ron Anlis'rnoM, a subject ot the King of Sweden, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ot illinois, have invented certain new and use'tul improvements in T 'ap-Door Mechanism, oit which the following is a specification.

r1`he mechanism ot' the present invention relates more particularly to one employed in connection with trap doors used 'for closing stair openings in vestibule railroad cars.

The objects ot the lpresent invention are to provide a mechanism ot the class speciiied which is composed ot a single part or piece, and which is cheap and simple oit manufacture, and at the same time will be durable ot use.

It further object ot' the invention is to so eonligure the said piece as to provide a latch member for holding the doors in closed position and an auxiliary lifting member it'or giving to the door an initial opening movement under certain conditions.

A further object of the invention is to arrange teilsion mechanism for moving the mechanism in one direction and to provide means ttor limiting the movement ot the member to maintain :it in its desired normal position.

The invention further consists in the teatures ot construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view partly in section oitl the door operating mechanism otl the present invention together with the easing or housing therefor and also showing a portion ot the trap door; ll` 2 is a t'ront view ot' the operating mechanism and casing therefor with. the door removed; Fig. 3 a View similar to Fig. 1 showing the latch portion ot' the mechanism withdrawn and the auxiliary li't'ting portion ot' the mechanism in acting position; and Fig. l is a View oit the under l:tace o1 the mechanism showing the method of applying the spring thereto.

As stated, the present invention relates to a mechanism used in conjunction with the trap doors of vestibule cars, which doors are utilized for the purpose of covering the stair openings in said vestibules, thus maintaining, when desired, a continuous tloor across the vestibule.

Referring now to the d awings, and particularly to Fig. 1, the device is shown in connection with a suitable trap door 5 of the class described, which trap door is mounted as usual upon suitable hinges, not shown, and such doors are usually provided with tension mechanism tor moving the same to open position. Joined to the car structure by suitable fastening means as by bolts is a casing 7 which has the upper )ortion thereof formed with a slot S and t 1e i'orward portion ot said slot is closed by means of a removable plate t), which plate serves to limit the :t'orward movement of the mechanism whereby the piece com posing said mechanism is maintained in proper normal position, which is the position shown in Fig. 1. The lower it'ace or wall 1() oit the casing is, as shown, provided with au opening 11. at the outermost corner thereol whereby any dust or dirt entering through the slot S will [ind a means for passing out oit the casing through the hole or opening 11. This will prevent the undesirable mccumulation of dirt or other material within the interior ot' the casing. Owing to the one piece :formation ot' the operating member the easing can be ol an unusually narrow construction utilizing less material and enabling it to be positioned readily and simply, requiring the cut-ting away oil? a very small portion of the ear structure.

The mechanism which is in the form oli a single member 12 is, as stated, oit one piece formation, and is vformed to provide an arm 13 terminating in a ioot piece 1 4-, and is lurther formed to provide a lip 15 having its outer face 11' beveled, and this lip is intended to overlie the edge ol. the top of the door when the door is in closed position, that is the position shown in Fig. 1, and serves as a latch for maintaining the door in such lowered or closed position. The member 12 is `also formed to provide a second lip or projection 17, which, as will be seen from Fig. 1, underlies the door and has the edge 18 thereof normally spaced away from contact with the door. The member 1.2 is pivoted upon a suitable pin 19.

Then pressure is applied to the foot piece 1li the member 12 is swung about the pin 19 into the positions shown in Fig. 3. The lirst result ot this movement will be to withdraw the lip 15 from its position over the door allowing the door to move to open position. Ordinarily such movement to open position will be brought about by the spring or other opening means incorporated in the door mounting, but it sometimes happens that owing to a collection of sleet or ice the door will stick to the extent that the spring will not sui'iice to open it. 1n such event it is desirable to provide some auxiliary means :tor moving the door to open position, and in the present invention this consists of the lip 1"?. By the configuration given to the operating member l2 this lip 17 comes into engagement with the lower face of the door after the lip l5 has been withdrawn from a position above the door, and thus if the door does not move to open position by the normal means, the acting end 18 of the lip 17 will strilethe under face of the door and by the blow thus given, impart to the door an initial opening movement as will be understood from F ig. 3. This initial opening movement will suiiice to break the iilm oi ice or sleet which is holding the door and after this has been broken the usual spring will act to move the door to its full open position. After the door is open the o-perator removes his foot from the foot piece 14- and a spring 2O then acts to return the operating member to the position shown in Fig. 1. W hen the door is lowered the side edge thereof engages with the sloping tace 16 or' the lip 15 and forces the operating member' bacl until the door has cleared the lip l5 at'ter which the spring acts to move the mechanism into the position shown in Fig. 1. As will be seen from F ig. 4 the under face of the operating member is cut away as at 2l to permit of the interposition of the spring 20.

l claim:

l. 1n a device of the class described, a combined catch and door opener consisting of a single piece formed to provide an arm terminating in a foot piece and formed to pro-vide a lip arranged to overlie the door when the door is closed, said lip constituting a catch member, and also formed to provide a second lip arranged to lie below the door when the door is closed and to be spaced away from the lower face of the door and constituting an auxiliary door opening membei', and a pivotal mounting for said piece arranged below the door, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, a combined catch and door opener consisting or' a single piece formed to provide an arm terminating in a foot piece, and formed to provide a lip arranged to overlie the door when the door is closed, said lip constituting' a catch member, the outer face of the lip being beveled, and said piece being formed to also provide a second lip arranged to lie below the door when thedoor is closed and to be spaced away from the door and constituting an auxiliary door opening member and a pivotal mounting for said piece arranged below the door, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing, a vcombined catch and door opener pivotally mounted within the casing, said opener consisting of a single piece formed to provide an arm terminating in a toot piece, and formed to provide a lip arranged to overlie the top ot the door when the door is closed, said lip constituting a catch member, and further formed to provide a second lip arranged to lie below the door when the door is closed and to be spaceifl away from the door and constituting an auxiliary door opener, said casing being slotted at its upper portion to permit movement of said arm and haifing an opening at its lower portion to permit discharge of dirt from the casing, substantially as described.

4l. 1n a device oli the class described, the combination of a casing, a combined catch and door opener within said ca ising, including a. swinging arm, the upper wall of said casing being slotted to permit said arm to travel, the bottom Vall of said casing having an opening to permit the egress of dirt from the casing and said lower wall sloping from its upper end to said opening, substantially as described.

1F. AHLSTROM.

Witnesses:

VM. 1). BOND, THOMAS A. BANNING, Jr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for :tive cents each, by acldressingg,1 the Commissioner of Eatents,

Washington, JD. C. 

